NBA paternity drama through the years: Anthony Edwards, more

Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards is causing a stir with its paternity drama – but the NBA has seen this movie before.

Edwards – who he was dating Shannon Jackson since 2020 and has a daughter with her – filed a paternity lawsuit against the influencer Ayesha Howard in September 2023.

A day after Howard gave birth to her daughter in October of that year, Edwards filed a new motion in his original lawsuit, requesting that DNA testing be conducted by a “neutral and licensed laboratory” based on the documents he received determine whether he is the father of her child Us weekly.

If the test confirms that Edwards is indeed the father, he will seek an order establishing paternity and child support for the baby. Howard and Edwards have not publicly commented on the lawsuit, but Jackson spoke out, saying via an Instagram Live: “They say I’m one of God’s strongest soldiers. Take me to the front. If I have to de-baby daddy him, then I have to de-baby daddy the first father. Damn!” (Jackson also shares son Krue with ex Keith “Chief Keef” Cozart.)

Related: What You Should Know About Anthony Edwards' Paternity Drama: His Kids, His Girlfriend and More

Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Fanatics Anthony Edwards is making waves with his recent paternity drama with influencer Ayesha Howard. According to court documents obtained by Us Weekly, the 23-year-old Minnesota Timberwolves star filed a new motion in his paternity lawsuit against Howard on October 15. The first lawsuit was filed in September. In the documents, (…)

Although Edwards is the latest basketball star whose personal drama has made headlines, he's not the first. Read more about other NBA players' fatherhood drama over the years:

Tristan Thompson

Maralee Nichols filed a paternity lawsuit against Thompson in June 2021, claiming she was pregnant with his child during his romance Khloe Kardashian. Thompson responded in a separate filing, admitting that the couple had sex in March while he was celebrating his birthday in Houston, Texas. In it, he requested a genetic test for the baby, who was born in December of the same year.

In January 2022, Thompson confirmed via his Instagram Story that he was the father of Nichols' baby, a son named Theo.

“I take full responsibility for my actions. Now that paternity has been established, I look forward to raising our son amicably. “I sincerely apologize to anyone I hurt or disappointed publicly and privately during this ordeal,” he wrote at the time. “Khloé, you don’t deserve this. You don't deserve the heartache and humiliation I caused you. You don't deserve the way I've treated you over the years. My actions certainly do not match the way I see you. I have the greatest respect and love for you. Regardless of what you think. Once again, I’m so incredibly sorry.”

Thompson's relationship with Kardashian ended when the lawsuit was made public. The two share daughter True, born in April 2018, and son Tatum, born via surrogate in July 2022.

LeBron James

In 2010, he became a lawyer in D.C Leicester Bryce Stovell filed a $4 million lawsuit claiming he was James' father after he ran into the NBA star's mother one night. Gloria JamesIn 1984, when she was 15 and he was 29, according to TMZ. (Stovell claimed he didn't know her age at the time.)

Although Stovell took a DNA test that came back negative, he accused LeBron and Gloria of manipulating the results.

In 2011, he became a U.S. District Court judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly dismissed the lawsuit on the grounds that Stovell “fails to cite any facts that would explain how they allegedly falsified the results.” She also said Stovell did not explain how he was cheated out of money.

“Apparently Stovell believes companies are willing to pay him for being the father of LeBron James,” she said, according to The Washington Post.

Anthony Edwards

In addition to his paternity drama with Howard, Edwards is said to have two other children with two other women.

In September 2023, Edwards reportedly became a father for the first time as a beauty influencer Daya daughter Aris greeted loudly Page Six. According to Daja, her baby's father was present at the birth, but she did not reveal his identity.

According to documents filed in April 2024 and received by UsEdwards accused Daja of engaging in “unsolicited harassing communications” in a legal dispute over her daughter. In a motion filed 10 days before the Timberwolves' NBA playoffs began, Edwards' attorney accused her of sending “threats” via text message to “individuals associated with the basketball star.”

“This attempt to sabotage the father’s personal and professional relationships must end,” the motion states.

In July 2024, a woman walks by Ally D accused Edwards of being an absentee father to her son Amir, who was born right before his and Jackson's daughter. Edwards did not address the allegations.

Michael Jordan

Pamela Smith filed a paternity lawsuit against the Chicago Bulls legend in 2013, seeking child support, claiming he was the father of her then 16-year-old son. Jordan denied the claims and filed a countersuit against Smith for false claims Reuters.

A month later, Smith dropped the lawsuit. Jordan's lawyers told the publication at the time that Smith had said in a previous divorce trial that her now-ex-husband was the child's father.